site.btaIf Mandated by Parliament, Belene N-Plant Investor Selection Procedure May Start by End-2018 - Energy Minister

Sochi, May 14 (BTA) - If the National Assembly mandates the selection of a strategic investor for the Belene N-plant, the procedure may be launched before the end of this year, Bulgarian Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova told journalists in Sochi, Russia, where she attended the ATOMEXPO International forum, her Ministry said in a press release on Monday.

On Sunday Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said that a moratorium imposed on the construction of Belene by his previous cabinet in March 2012 should be lifted to enable the National Assembly to mandate a start of talks with investors.

National Assembly Energy Committee Chairman Delyan Dobrev MP of GERB said in a bTV interview Monday morning that Parliament can resolve to mandate the Government to explore the option for completing the Belene project without delay, as soon as the Government approaches the legislature for such a mandate. "You know the Cabinet holds its weekly meeting on Wednesday, and Parliament can take a vote on a Belene mandate on the very next day," Dobrev said.

Last week the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) confirmed its investment interest in the Belene project.

Petkova recalled that the Bulgarian Government is trying to make the best possible use of the project assets. "Three billion leva in Bulgarian taxpayersТ money have already been invested in it, equipment has been paid for and delivered, the project has been certified by the European Commission, and the site is licensed. This is an advantage for the implementation of the project compared to other such projects in the region. Our idea is to have it implemented along market lines, without State guarantees and without contracting a long-term purchase of the electricity produced," the Minister explained.

In 2012 Bulgaria abandoned plans to build a new N-plant, at Belene as unfeasible. In 2016, however, this country was ordered by an arbitration court to pay 1,170 million leva to the Russian contractor AtomStroyExport for two reactors it had already built for Belene.

The report on the utilization of the Belene assets, which the National Assembly commissioned the Energy Ministry to draw up, will be ready within days and will be submitted to Parliament, Petkova added.

At the forum, Petkova met with Framatome President Bernard Fontana. The French company executives confirmed their interest in cooperation with Bulgaria in the field of nuclear energy. Fontana said that it is important for his company to continue working with international partners, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. Since the beginning of 2018 Framatome has been the nuclear division of Areva with over 2,000 employees.

Petkova updated Fontana on the Belene project. "Bulgaria could share in the possible implementation through the existing assets," she said. She added that it would be very good to see a company like Framatome enter the strategic investor selection procedure. Fontana said that Framatome is interested and follows the progress of the project.